Christmas is a beautiful season of celebration. Though visible in many ways, one image of celebration is the assortment of beautifully wrapped gifts. Regardless of how many presents surround our Christmas trees, these packages of colorful paper and bows represent the love we have for one another. Additionally, gifts with our names on them raise anticipation and invite us to have hope for what we will receive.

Some 2,000 years ago, God gave us the ultimate gift. Wrapped in a form that we would recognize, God entered our world. Like the presents we place under our decorated trees, the gift of Jesus is an expression of God’s love for us.

Remembering the gift of Jesus in this season, we re-imagine the anticipation that Israel felt for the coming of the Messiah. This experience isn’t very difficult since we see the injustices and disharmony in our world and our anticipation for the second coming of Jesus grows. Held in tension between what we experience now and what we will experience when Jesus returns, we wait with hope for what will come.

As this year comes to a close, we invite you to consider how you can give a gift of love to the Church of the Brethren. Though we all are held in the tension of what has been and what will be, we pray and give with expectation of what God will do.

May you experience God’s presence in this season of waiting, and may you be filled with hope as we celebrate Jesus, God’s gift of love to the world.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Mackinac Island, a Michigan favorite! Well, you CAN get there from here, but you CAN’T drive to do so. Catch a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace for the short ride. There are no cars allowed on the island. Charming. You can enjoy Mackinac Island many ways. One is to take a carriage tour. These horse-driven tours give oodles of information and show you many sights of the island including the Butterfly House and interesting Arch Rock. Restaurants and beautiful gardens abound on the two main streets and up the hill as well as more shops than you’d care to visit.

Horse carriage on Mackinac Island

The views of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge are gorgeous. If you’re up to it, take a bike ride around the island. There are plenty of rental spots right off the ferry docks. It’s about eight miles around, all paved. You can make it in an hour, but most likely, you’ll want to take a bit more time so you can get off your bike and dabble your feet in the crystal clear cold water. Ride by horseback! Hike up into the middle of the island or around the island if you choose. Sit on the porch of the Grand Hotel (although that comes at a bit of a price).

Flowers on Mackinac Island

If you visit Mackinac Island for the day, you’re considered a “fudgie” because few folks leave without a pound or two of Mackinac’s popular delicacy (and maybe a pound or two on the hips from all the free samples!). Summer stays on the island are pricy, but there are plenty of choices in nearby Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. While you’re in St. Ignace, you might like Castle Rock. Hang out with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox! Head east to Sault Ste Marie, the Soo Locks. Boat tours take you through the locks. Very interesting! Or head north to the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, an Upper Peninsula gem. Hike to your heart’s content. Tour the Quincy Mine in Hancock and see how copper mining was done between 1846 and 1945. At Kitch-Iti-Kipi (The Big Spring) help guide a cable boat over the water that never freezes. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is considered the best place to see in the Upper Peninsula. Head to Munising and sign up for a boat ride with sights you’ll never forget. There’s so much to do, something for everybody!

The EYN Integrated Community Based Development Programme (ICBDP) had an awareness gathering with 30 community leaders on Local Chicken vaccine. The meeting include lecture on the importance of Local Chicken to a community delivered by the HoD EYN Agric Mr. Yakubu Peter. In his lecture Peter stressed that people misunderstood the benefits of Local Chickens which he said are easier to manage than Hybrid chickens.

The advocacy meeting was to inform the communities of the free vaccine to be administered to Kwarhi, Mararraba, Anguwan WarTilli, Anguwa Kafu, Lumba, Kwagwanga, Bakin Rijiya, Jan Lamba, and Plefu wards.

Joro Yuguda Washebiyanda, who spoke on behalf of the Leaders, appreciated the effort and asked the 30 Ward heads to inform their people and encourage them to come out on the days scheduled for the vaccination. The farmers were asked to try to cage their local birds for New Castle Vaccination on the specified dates when the department staff will meet them from early hours. Eight days (12th to 21st December 2016) were proposed for the vaccination.

Joro Yuguda thanked the sponsors of this project and the Church for reaching them with what he called “grace”. He and also called on the ward heads to go home and do their own part by informing every farmer in the domain. “May God reward you, be free to ask the Agric section of the church if we have any questions” he said.

The Agric Department has served Christian and Muslim Communities for a decade with Agricultural services ranging from seeds, egg, fertilizers, herbicides, and farming techniques.

The Director of EYN ICBDP, Rev. James K. Mamza, who on behalf of the EYN President thanked the community leaders for responding to the call, said, “This is just a beginning of such assistance to the community.” He also hinted that the church is planning to promote soya beans production in communities with series of projects they have to change life of farmers being supported by EYN Partners.

We have been blessed to host Markus Gamache as he hosted us when visited in Nigeria. One body in Christ, across the ocean… we have seen and heard each other’s journey and we have been blessed. It was a busy two weeks, we traveled over 2000 miles and spoke in 10 different venues from churches to Colleges. It was a real treat to be able to hear and watch Markus interact with different audiences across the country. He has a way of connecting with those he is speaking to and can bring an update of the true happenings in Nigeria to a very personal level. Here are a few highlights about Markus and our journey with him.

Markus at Postdam Church of the Brethren with Pastor Carl HillSouthern Ohio District Nigeria Fundraiser

Markus’ journey

Each time I listened to Markus speak to a group or held a conversation in the car I learned a little bit more of his story. Markus was born into a pagan family. He was the first boy born to his mother, who was the fourth wife of his father. He grew up in the bush where each wife had three huts, one for sleeping, one for cooking and one for storing corn and making beer. The father had a hut to himself in the center of the compound. Markus grew up with many brothers and sisters. When he was about 7 years old to 10 years old he began going to school where he learned to read the Koran and was learning the Muslim prayers. His father was a leader in the community and became a Muslim and so his whole family became Muslim. This was when Markus was 13 years old. Between the age of 10 and 13 Markus and the other boys in his school met a Christian man who told them it would be very difficult to become a Muslim; because if you did not recite the prayers just right they would burn you with a hot poker stick. Markus decided to become a Christian out of this fear. When his father decided the family would become Muslim, Markus was kicked out of the house and built a small corn stalk house at the edge of the village. His mother lived with him until he was 15 years old, when his father required her to return home. She continued to support him with food placed over the fence. Currently Markus’ father is deceased and his mother is living in his home as a Muslim. He has many Muslim friends and family members as well as Christian friends and family members.

Markus with his wife and mother

Markus has been working with interfaith relations for years. He has six children, two with his first wife who died of complications of diabetes when the children were 7 and 8 years old. He then married his current wife Janada and they have four children ages 7, 5, 3 and 6 months old. Markus works with the EYN church and is the representative from EYN to the Church of the Brethren, USA. This requires much time and energy away from his family. He hosts visitors to Nigeria, making many things possible. He visits both in USA and Germany to continue work for the church. During the Crisis since 2014 Markus shared he has not slept in his bed. He has hosted many people in his home, both Muslim and Christian, all running for their lives from Boko Haram. He lives in a three bedroom home, with one bathroom. He described hosting over 60 people in his home at one point. Not just of a night or two, but for months. It was a hard burden… to feed these people. Little children were everywhere, sometimes defecating and urinating on the floors. His wife was exhausted and their marriage stressed. So the interfaith camp at Gurku…was born out of necessity. The Church of the Brethren and many others have supported its ministry. Before I get lost in the story of Gurku, let me say that Markus still hosts 20 people in his home and he continues to covet time with his family and his wife. Still giving up his bed for others, he is a servant for sure, with much sacrifice.

Visiting Gurku Interfaith Camp (January 2016)

The interfaith camp at Gurku

When our group visited the interfaith camp at Gurku there were 70 families living there, both Muslim and Christians, all displaced by the violence in the Northeast. They had a church building started and were beginning to build a mosque. The people worked together to make their own bricks and helped each other build their homes. They have an infirmary and a brick oven for the widows to bake muffins to sell. Now there are 170 families living at Gurku. The widows have their own living area and a fish pond. They just finished harvesting the fish and smoking them for eating and selling. The church has been completed with windows and doors, and a tile floor. They have also built a guest house at the site. This community is very close to Markus’ heart and in the future he would like to move his family to this community to live and work with them. He often thinks of a day when he can spend his time raising his family. Markus will say that he never planned to build an interfaith camp, but out of the need for a place for all the displaced people the community has been developing with support and leadership from many people.

Who are the Boko Haram?

I am no expert, but I have learned in the past two weeks that Boko Haram was born out of poverty, lack of resources, food, and they are fellow Nigerians, brothers and cousins and yes relatives to the people we have met in the EYN. Nigeria had been suffering from lack of food and a poor economy since 2009. Somehow Boko Haram has been able to obtain weapons, food and money. They have ways of employing others to work for them and since the economy is so depressed people will agree to work for them before they even know what they signed up for. So indeed Boko Haram includes people in each community that are known by members of EYN; people they have gone to school with, met in the market, and members of their own family. Markus shared his mother was held by the Boko Haram for nine months. He did not know if she was dead or alive. Her own grandson came to her numerous times intending to kill her. And so yes, religious ideology is part of the Boko Haram, but it is also political and economical as well. As I think of the Chibok girls, I am realizing it is a very complicated situation. It leads me to the scripture Markus was sharing and struggling with on this trip. “You shall love your enemies, pray for those that hurt you.” Markus asked us to think about who are our enemies? Can you name them? Did Jesus know what Nigeria was going to go through when he said love your enemies? What should they do when they recognize the man that killed their husband, or slaughtered their baby? What should you do when you face them in the market? Markus and others covet our prayers and our wisdom, inspiration and strength to help them to love their enemies because as human beings it is extremely difficult to forgive and love. I can only suggest that it is the Christ in us that allows us to be able to look upon another person who has harmed us and hurt us so deeply, and to respond with grace, love and forgiveness. It is not us alone that can forgive and love, but the power of Christ in us that gives us the strength to not retaliate. Markus challenged people to give to him the wisdom of how to respond to enemies. He was searching for answers, for strength, for our prayers and support.

Markus in a tractor

Building the Church in Nigeria through a tractor?

Each day of our journey with Markus was filled with moments of deep sharing, wondering and dreaming. It was good. It was exhausting. As we traveled from farm to farm, and drove from Elizabethtown to McPherson College, a dream started to develop in our car. Markus was learning more and more about farming, preparing the soil, tractors. And then we started thinking how would a tractor in Nigeria change the ability of the people to plant more crops. And with each new farm and farmer we met we asked more questions. We researched tractors in Nigeria, and a proposal began to take shape. And although it is still only a dream, a possibility, it is exciting to think about building the church in Nigeria with a tractor. We have learned that Nigeria is the third worst country for famine. In the northeast and even in the camps closer to the center of the country the people do not have enough food to eat. People are dying in the camps every week for lack of food. A tractor would be helpful in preparing the soil for planting. Right now all farming is done by hand. In some areas the bush is being tilled for the first time and it is very hard work. If the tractor could disk the ground, the people could plant more crops and harvest more food. They would have more food to eat and to share with their neighbors. They would have seeds to save to plant for the next year. Some of the crops could be sold and the money used to pay for hospital needs, school fees for their children and placed in the church offering. Many people are not going to church because they have nothing to give to the offering. Pastors are not being paid because the people are in crisis and do not have much to give. Over 1600 churches have been burned and destroyed in the northeast. Pastors are out of work. We do not even know where some pastors are located presently, dead or alive. People are settling new areas of Nigeria and the church is growing as host communities join displaced EYN members. If people had more money to give to the church, they could pay their pastors and have money to rebuild the buildings that were destroyed and build new buildings in new communities. They would feel good about being about to support their families and community.

Each day I shed tears of compassion for the far reaching effects of crisis. I learned how complicated counties, people, churches, governments and systems can be. How overwhelming the needs. How faithful God’s people are all over the world. I continue to witness the power of prayer, the faithfulness of God’s mercy.

MSS volunteer Ruth Ritchie-Moore readingto students at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren.Photos by Donita Keister

By Donita Keister, associate pastor for Children and Pastoral Care at Buffalo Valley (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and Mission and Ministry Board member.

Days are refreshingly cooler now that Fall has finally arrived. This summer in central Pennsylvania was particularly warm, and had a unique sense of warmth for me that went beyond the sun’s intense rays. Each summer at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren, I supervise a summer full of programming for children in our community that includes a Wednesday day camp along with other ministry activities. Last fall our Children’s Ministry Team became aware of Ministry Summer Service, a leadership development program during which college students in the Church of the Brethren spend nine weeks in a church-related setting. As we applied to become a site for an MSS volunteer, we looked forward to the extra set of hands and feet that would lighten the heavy load of summer ministry.

We were excited to learn that our application was accepted and we would welcome Ruth Ritchie-Moore into our lives and ministry. As we prepared for her work among us, I slowly gained a deeper understanding of what MSS was all about. Yes, Ruth would be among us as “hands and feet,” but the relationship would go well beyond that to a place of heartfelt ministry on a number of different levels. I learned that I would have the responsibility to mentor Ruth, who had entrusted her summer to my care. Her experience with our congregation would help form her view of her own ministry and call in her chosen vocation.

Ruth and I were partners as we planned our times of ministry with the children. I challenged her to confidently grow in her obvious ability to articulate her particularly deep insights and to share her heart. She challenged me to be organized and prepared for my day (although I’m pretty sure she was not aware of that… I have a tendency to “fly by the seat of my pants” more often than I should). I challenged her to be open to God’s calling in surprising and unexpected places. Her quiet and reflective presence challenged me to “be still and know” daily with more intentionality and presence in order to see God’s hand at work. These lessons and others brought the unique sense of warmth and friendship into our mentor/mentee relationship.

As our time together drew to a close I discovered new things about Ruth that I wished I had seen earlier. I wished for more time at a slower pace, not only so I could mentor her longer, but in order that she could continue to “mentee” me.

We arrived at the Yola camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) and Salamatu Billi (wife of the EYN President, Rev. Joel Billi) seemed very happy to be with the women and she joined them in energetically singing warm songs of welcome to our Fellowship Tour. I could not help but wonder how many of the women were widows (as there were noticeably fewer men in the camp). The women’s choir, nonetheless sang with great joy. )

Michelle Gibbel and Palace

Michele Gibbel of the Litiz, PA church shared the following “take-away” experience: “During the worship/introduction time at the IPD camp in Yola, a young girl named Palace sat on my lap. She kept playing with my hands, trying to scratch off my freckles, noticing the small blister, and looking at my uneven fingernails. And then she started to count my fingers. She touched each one. And then she touched each of her fingers. 10 – the same number. For me, this moment was so profound. Our lives could not be any more different. BUT, we are both created by the same loving God, who has formed each of our fingers, and calls each of us by name. And so, we are really not that different after all. My heart will forever remain with my new Little Sister, Palace.”

After the welcome singing and the remarks, we toured the camp and saw the sparse living conditions, but the concrete block homes at least were sturdy and permanent. The children were so excited to show Michelle the new water well which seemed to be a symbol of great hope. We played games and left some mementos of our love (soccer balls, crayons and paper, Frisbees, etc.) with the camp director, Rev. Jerry Tizhe.)

Jim and I have spent summer time on Crystal Lake at the Crystal Lake Motel and Resort for decades. Sometimes we’re there for a week. Other summers we spend just a few nights. There are numerous places to stay in the area, but this is our favorite. Crystal Lake in Beulah is about two hours north of Grand Rapids. M31 makes a great drive through several lake towns, though you’re inland a on that route. We love Beulah because it is centrally located for so many of Michigan’s treasures. Once in Beulah, take M22 up to quaint Leland, summery Sutton’s Bay, then on to Traverse City and back. You can head to Frankfurt, the beach, the lighthouse, charming Main Street. Drive to Sleeping Bear sand dunes; appreciate the scenes overlooking Lake Michigan. Climb the bear if you’re inclined. Visit Point Betsy Lighthouse.

Near Beulah is the studio of the late artist Gwen Frostic, a Michigan icon. Pick up beautiful block print stationery, napkins, cards and books of poetry by the artist. See the printing press. Across the road stop at an interesting alpaca farm.

Gwen Frostic studio. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Kinsey.

Gwen Frostic cards. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Kinsey.

Crystal Lake itself is a clear blue relaxing beauty. It’s perfect for swimming. If you’re up for more of a challenge a more refreshing dip, Lake Michigan beaches abound in that area. You can tube/canoe/kayak rivers, enjoy freshwater fish and ice cream, hike, whatever your heart desires in this Michigan goldmine. Just make sure you’re outside every sunset to enjoy the masterpieces of our favorite Artist!